1 So great enmities did that monarch indulge in and foster, although he did not esteem as a fable the doctrine concerning Christ, but was by this time aware of the time and place of His nativity. — Vers. Germ.
2 In the original the passage stands thus — " Prsesens tempus, quo conspici cospta esset stella, quce appareret, quaesivit Herodes." This is evidently a misprint for — '• Prsesens. Tempus quo conspici ccepta esset stella, quce ap pareret, quaesivit Herodes."
In his German Version Bengel renders the passage " und vcrnahm von ihnen die Zeit, da der Stern erschienen," i.e. "and ascertained accurately from them the Time when the Star appeared." In his Harmony he renders it — " und erlernte mit fleis von ihnen wann der Stern erschienen ware" i.e. "and learnt with diligence from them, when the star made its appearance." -(I. B.)
3 This is the reading of E. M.— (I. B.)
4 BC (corrected later) D abc, Vulg. read with Beng. i^sriiaxrf dxpifiu;. The reading of Rec. Text is without very ancient authority. — ED.
6 Engl. Vers. And when. — (I. B.)
6 Nor were they at all affected by the torpor and apathy of the scribes or of the Jews. — Vers. Germ.
was subject to the guidance of an intelligent cause. — Cf. slS in ver. 8.
10. 'l86vTt;, x.r.X., ivhen they saw) It must have been night. — rbv affrepa, the star) Both Scripture and the star show them the time and the place : Scripture, indeed, indicates the time with some latitude, in accordance with the general way in which the expectation of the Messiah's coming then universally prevailed.
11. E/Sov, they saw) Sweetly is expressed the increase and pro gress of their joy from that of seeing the star to that of seeing the KING Himself. The inferior reading, tvpov1 (they found), corresponds with the words of Herod, " Enquire diligently, and when ye have found" etc. But the star, by becoming stationary, spared the Magi the labour of enquiring. They did not so much find as see. - Cf. Luke ii. 17, 20, 26, 30. — vpofftx-jvriffav A-ircS, they worshipped Him) Mary was not an object of worship to the Magi. If she had been conceived without sin, as the greater portion of the Roman Church has now decided, why should she not then have been worshipped as well as now ? for she was then already the Mother of the King, who was to be worshipped. — roiig S?;<rau- PO-JS d'jrZv, their treasures) or receptacles of treasures. The Hebrew "1VIK, which is rendered by the LXX. Sqoaupbg in Prov. viii. 21, etc., signifies a storehouse, a repository, even a portable chest or casket. — <rpoff7ivf) xav, they offered) as to a King. They were not offended by His present poverty. — yspuebv, xai \lf3avov, xat ffpvpvav, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh) from the produc tions of their own country. There was a prediction concerning gold and frankincense in Isaiah Ix. 6. These first fruits showed that all things were to belong to Christ, even in the mineral and vegetable kingdoms, etc. — See Haggai ii. 8.
12. Xprsluari(&'svrec, being warned of God) sc. either each of them separately, or all of them through one of their number. Thus they had wished or prayed : for XpripaTifffj.bg signifies an oracular answer, [and an answer implies a preceding question.] The same word occurs at ver. 22. — w avaxd^ai, not to return) They had therefore thought of doing so. — avs^prisav, they de parted) by a road, which led in another direction.
1 BCDa read il^ov. be, Vulg. and Rec. Text, with less authority, tl^ov. — ED.